Las Vegas Philharmonic Performs Season Finale Today

The Las Vegas Philharmonic performs its Season Finale concert on Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 7:30 PM in Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. The program will feature the Philharmonic's American German Cultural Exchange Fellowship recipient, German pianist Danae Dörken performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Opus 73, "Emperor." In addition, the orchestra will perform Bernstein's Fancy Free: Three Dance Variations and close its 2017 - 2018 concert season with Prokofiev's Symphony No. 5 in B-Flat Major, Opus 100. Music Director Donato Cabrera will host his pre-concert conversation at 6:30 PM in Reynolds Hall for patrons interested in learning more about the music in the evening program.

In celebration of Leonard Bernstein's 100th birthday, the Las Vegas Philharmonic opens its final performance with Bernstein's ballet score Fancy Free: Three Dance Variations (1944). The ballet tells the tale of Three Sailors vying for the attention of two girls that pass by. In order to determine which two sailors will ultimately win a date with the girls, the men partake in a dance contest featuring a Galop, Waltz, and Danzon. Unfortunately, the dance spirals into a fistfight among the men. The music captures the rambunctious nature of the story.

Next, the orchestra performs Beethoven's final Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major, Opus 73, "Emperor" (1809) featuring German pianist Danae Dörken. The concerto starts with a grandiose first movement showcasing the pianist's virtuosity followed by a simple second movement with a lovely chorale-like melody between piano and orchestra, then concluding with an energetic rondo.

Dörken is an internationally acclaimed pianist known for her stunning technical skills and exceptional charisma. She studied with internationally renowned teachers Karl-Heinz Kämmerling and Lars Vogt and is a regular guest with major orchestras including the Munich Symphony, Royal Northern Sinfonia, and Dusseldorf Symphony Orchestra. Other solo engagements include performances with Tonhalle Zurich, Palais des Beaux-Arts Brussels (Bozar), at the famous Festival Piano aux Jacobins in Toulouse and the PianoEspoo Festival in Finland. Her solo recording of fantasies by Schumann, Schubert and C.P.E. Bach (on ARS Produktion) was nominated for on ICMA Award.

To close the Philharmonic's 2017 - 2018 concert season, the orchestra will perform Prokofiev's war-time Symphony No. 5 in B-Flat Major, Opus 100 (1944). Influenced by the events of World War II, Prokofiev's symphony contains rich melodies, dramatic passages, two-note rhythmic motives, brooding tones and a vibrant finale that captures the essence of the human spirit.

Ticket Prices and Shuttle Bus Services

Single tickets include five price levels in Reynolds Hall:

PT Box = $109, A Seating = $105, B Seating = $70, C Seating = $50 and D Seating = $30

Tickets can be purchased online through lvphil.org or The Smith Center Box Office at 702.749.2000. The Las Vegas Philharmonic will offer a shuttle bus service to the 7:30 PM concert from the Anthem Center at Independence Center in Henderson and the Starbright Theater in Summerlin, departing at 5:45 PM. A roundtrip bus ticket costs $20 per concert and can be purchased in conjunction with the patron's concert tickets through the box office or online.